tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post7945009106500154614..comments2024-03-28T04:55:50.771-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: Would you rather be productive or creative? Jungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-49077391457268084692016-02-09T15:50:16.619-05:002016-02-09T15:50:16.619-05:00It's a critical part of the ongoing process of...It's a critical part of the ongoing process of genetic survival to have differences. Without differences species die. While the species survives by having a wide range of abilities and talents so some will be left to go on and survive. As individuals we survive best by discovering our best behavioral set for whatever it is we do.<br /><br />If you're a plotter, plan and plot. Do it nice and neat from the start.<br />If you're a pantser, grab your pants and sit down. Clean it up later.<br />Leave room for change, because that happens, too. Like surprises.<br /><br />Just my thoughts. Maureen Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03499876353651763590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-14507971290164976952016-02-09T15:49:02.200-05:002016-02-09T15:49:02.200-05:00I probably don't have to say how wonderful it ...I probably don't have to say how wonderful it is that so many amazing writers I admire from here to eternity have that same "last week of school and I never went to math class once" nightmare!Leslie Budewitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11942314846112875042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-3875863950942841972016-02-09T15:41:10.262-05:002016-02-09T15:41:10.262-05:00Get Jerry to learn it for you.
Or I can come ove...Get Jerry to learn it for you. <br /><br />Or I can come over, set it up for you, and show you how to download stuff once a month. Very easy. Karen in Ohionoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-38703121121476910542016-02-09T15:23:09.562-05:002016-02-09T15:23:09.562-05:00Karen, you are my hero. But I feel about quicken t...Karen, you are my hero. But I feel about quicken the way I feel about Scrivener. Learning it would add at least a month to how late my book is.<br />Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-56756662780128432382016-02-09T14:53:27.378-05:002016-02-09T14:53:27.378-05:00You won't have to log receipts if you A) alway...You won't have to log receipts if you A) always use a credit card, whenever you can, and B) download your credit card records directly into a Quicken account on your computer. <br /><br />For years I did it by hand, about this time of year, then I hired my teenaged daughter to do it when she was still living at home. Then I discovered how to download the information. It's, seriously, a godsend. And if you precode various types of expenses so they correlate with tax line expenses, you can automatically flow your Quicken expenses directly into TurboTax. <br /><br />I've done all the above, pre- pro-, you name it. The only consistent thing about how I go about my life is its inconsistency. However, when it comes to packing for a trip I'm usually with those of you who pack the night before, and for the same reason. Otherwise I lie awake and fret about it all night long. Karen in Ohionoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-81595504512755751822016-02-09T14:23:45.150-05:002016-02-09T14:23:45.150-05:00Logging receipts? You mean everyone doesn't sp...Logging receipts? You mean everyone doesn't spend two days before meeting-with-the-account-day frantically going through credit card and bank statements?<br /><br />My husband actually did show up to look at the final exam schedule in college only to discover his final had been two days before. Which may go part of the way to explaining his ten year college career.Barb Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16470220932617188498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-90127306796938717752016-02-09T12:40:24.072-05:002016-02-09T12:40:24.072-05:00Count me in as one of the anxiety dreamers who hav...Count me in as one of the anxiety dreamers who haven't attended that class and a final grade is due. As someone who was quite skilled at school, this dream is disturbing. Then, I have the dream where I haven't turned in assignments to a class, especially a big project, and I'm scrabbling to try and get something in.<br /><br />Hank, I love your planning for planning. When I was in graduate school, I kept a datebook in which I would schedule when I was going to work on something and when I would have it finished, well before the due date. Hallie, I guess that would make me a pre-crastinator, but it seems to apply mostly to academic matters. I wish that planning carried over to my daily life. I do like to get to the airport way early, as I'd much rather be there than worrying about getting there. I adore lists and checking off items as a I do them, and, Kait, I have also been known to go back and put down items I accomplished but weren't written down. Some days you just need that. <br /><br />I don't pack way ahead for a trip, but I start picking out what I will take a few weeks before, just to make sure I'm going to have enough to take. I don't do the actual packing until a couple of days before and finish up the night before. I sometimes make a list of what I'm taking or need to take so that I won't forget anything. Of course, I pick out what books I'm taking first. Kathy Reelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17004247271452356577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-88446858084562832742016-02-09T12:19:43.621-05:002016-02-09T12:19:43.621-05:00You mean not everyone files their taxes on October...You mean not everyone files their taxes on October 15th??? And what is this "logging receipts" thing?<br /><br />As for the pre and pro, I'm a bit of both, although mostly a procrastinator. I do pack the night before trips, because, as Hallie says, otherwise I'll never get to sleep. And I do like to be at the airport really early--although I don't always make it as early as I'd like. (I LOVE being early at the airport. It's like a free zone. You can read, write, have a snack, and NOBODY CAN BOTHER YOU!)<br /><br />I'm glad to know that the procrastinating allows my creativity to flourish. But the flourishing only takes place when I am actually making some effort to work...<br /><br />Oh, the dream! I have it too, except mine usually takes the form of getting to a class and finding out there's a test that I didn't study for, or a paper due that I knew nothing about. Deborah Crombiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16988750789088153601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-20325754250222476472016-02-09T11:57:35.903-05:002016-02-09T11:57:35.903-05:00Love that term, Barbara: Marinate. YES, I especial...Love that term, Barbara: Marinate. YES, I especially marinate at night while I'm not falling asleep and in the morning when I'm just lying there not getting up. There's always a pen and paper on the bedside table and most of time I can read the notes I scribble as the muse strikes.Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-8726258856893975792016-02-09T11:46:54.122-05:002016-02-09T11:46:54.122-05:00I'm laughing because Bill and I call April 15t...I'm laughing because Bill and I call April 15th, "extension day." Our accountant is a dear friend and he does our taxes for free, but we can't ask him to do them during his busy season, so...<br /><br />I always say I am an overachiever trapped in a procrastinator's body.<br /><br />I am more creative when I marinate on something, particularly in terms of solving tricky plot problems, but for that to work I have to be writing frequently enough that my head is in the game. Otherwise I'm solving totally unwriting-related problems.<br /><br />I also marinate a bit after I've written. "Oh, that character has a deep baritone voice" and go back and put notes in the scene.Barb Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16470220932617188498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-62868675966017989662016-02-09T11:26:31.787-05:002016-02-09T11:26:31.787-05:00Oh my god, Hank, you just made my day! That's ...Oh my god, Hank, you just made my day! That's the ultimate absentminded trick, I think. I do that. I'll have tasks on my list for weeks on end--I just don't want to forget that I need to think about them. :-)<br /><br />Ugh, I'm logging in all my 2015 receipts now ... I so wish I were the type of person to keep up on it throughout the year. However, I can't believe I'm doing it so early! Last year I didn't get 2014 done until August. Hey, as long as I'm moving in the right direction, right?Lisa Alberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12591430453957883948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-50707450808432312016-02-09T11:25:35.036-05:002016-02-09T11:25:35.036-05:00Hallie, I have those dreams, too! Trying to gradua...Hallie, I have those dreams, too! Trying to graduate, short a credit, forgot about a class, trying to make up a semester's work in a day.... Doesn't take Freud to figure that one out!Susan Elia MacNealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00349842866995778987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-20646629164479441042016-02-09T11:12:50.128-05:002016-02-09T11:12:50.128-05:00Mary, I've done that! We live literally 20 min...Mary, I've done that! We live literally 20 minutes from the airport and it's taken me 2+ hours to get there. My husband reminds me of that whenever it comes time to decide what time we should leave.Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-91430677396836376282016-02-09T11:11:11.322-05:002016-02-09T11:11:11.322-05:00Oh, Rhys, I'm so glad you do that too. I find ...Oh, Rhys, I'm so glad you do that too. I find only bad writing can be rushed.<br /><br />And Hank, I'm starting a DON'T DO list - brilliant.Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-52172705553388876862016-02-09T11:03:05.946-05:002016-02-09T11:03:05.946-05:00Guilty of pre crash inaction. (I didn't change...Guilty of pre crash inaction. (I didn't change my auto correct because I thought it summed it up rather well!)<br />I'm always ahead if deadline, lacked 3 days before, made lists of what to take a month before, airport early, anxiety dreams about missing my flight. <br />But I have learned that writing can't be rushed. I might finish my days quota by mid morning but can't go on because the next pages haven't congealed in my brain. I need down time to drive around, talk to myself, let the scene materialize.Rhysnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-3240337307731962442016-02-09T10:55:53.395-05:002016-02-09T10:55:53.395-05:00Yes, you can do so much in the airport. Read, writ...Yes, you can do so much in the airport. Read, write, sleep.<br /><br />I live maybe 45 minutes (non-rush hour) from the airport. For Bouchercon 2015, I left 3 hours early. "Surely, even with morning rush hour and construction, that will be plenty of time."<br /><br />I got to the gate as the plane was boarding.Liz Millironhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04919409969263609919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-31096076074314598032016-02-09T10:54:06.049-05:002016-02-09T10:54:06.049-05:00ANd yes, exactly the same dream. WHY didn't I ...ANd yes, exactly the same dream. WHY didn't I study? WHY can't I find the classroom?Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-33422293397791689712016-02-09T10:52:25.701-05:002016-02-09T10:52:25.701-05:00"Log" expenses and income? They all get..."Log" expenses and income? They all get stuffed into folders.Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-79455640498301992552016-02-09T10:52:10.568-05:002016-02-09T10:52:10.568-05:00Fascinating. And agreed, Lisa, about messiness. I ...Fascinating. And agreed, Lisa, about messiness. I bought that Tidying book,but now I forgot where I put it.<br /><br />And how would you characterize me?<br /><br />I plan for when I'm going to plan. SO for instance, if I have an article due Thursday of next week, I have it on my to do list marked "Saturday." SO I know that I am not going to formally think about it until Saturday. SO--essentially, I put it on a 'don't do' list. Then it;s on the to do list. Then I get the joy of crossing off.<br /><br />But I ALWAYS pack the night before, have to. And I ALWAYS get to the airport early. Yeesh. Nothing worse than freaking out that you're late for a plane. Plus, I get a lot done in the airport.Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-77360919410652161252016-02-09T10:37:17.906-05:002016-02-09T10:37:17.906-05:00This is interesting, Hallie. And it makes total se...This is interesting, Hallie. And it makes total sense. I always feel like I need to be more like a pre-crastinator -- because that must be very efficient and what efficient people do ... But, when I am being efficient like that, I'm not getting much creative work done.<br /><br />Ultimately, I'm a huge procrastinator. Or, as I like to say, I'm like an absentminded professor with every day life things like keeping up on email. Life is what we prioritize--and am I really going to get anal and stressed out all time because my kitchen isn't spotless, the laundry is piling up, and the mail pile is about a foot high? No. Life's too short for that. (That said, I wish I had the money to hire many helpers! That would be great.)<br /><br />Related to this, I recently read an article about messiness. How being tidy all the time isn't really all that -- especially for creative folks. Messiness and creativity apparently go together. Thank God! :-)Lisa Alberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12591430453957883948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-22817861203855158302016-02-09T10:11:21.555-05:002016-02-09T10:11:21.555-05:00Good to know there is a word for this habit. I'...Good to know there is a word for this habit. I'm darn glad to know I'm not the only one who does this stuff. <br /><br />I am a sporadic pre-crastinator, usually when I am starting a new project. I've been battling pre-crastination since the new year, kicking myself for failing to get focused. I'm glad to know I am actually germinating something wonderful and creative.<br /><br />Thanks!<br />Brenda Buchananhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14161539130987122737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-49028038078793458312016-02-09T09:43:49.913-05:002016-02-09T09:43:49.913-05:00I am, as we all know, a terrible procrastinator, a...I am, as we all know, a terrible procrastinator, and I never have anxiety dreams except the night before I have to catch a plane in the morning - I keep dreaming I missed my alarm, I wake up, check the alarm, go back to sleep, rinse and repeat. I do pack ahead and get to the airport ahead of time, but that's the result of experience, not an innate promptness.<br /><br />I do notice, however, that I get very busy and efficient when I'm ducking work. The house is clean, the laundry done and folded, dinner made by 5...Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09553268569509053159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-19338154350378535332016-02-09T09:24:41.789-05:002016-02-09T09:24:41.789-05:00Mary Sutton, even when I pack the night before I m...Mary Sutton, even when I pack the night before I manage to forget the toothbrush. I once forgot underpants. But what packing ahead allows me to do is fall asleep the night before.Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-84681903745296960282016-02-09T09:19:12.268-05:002016-02-09T09:19:12.268-05:00Having twice gone on trips because I forgot to pac...Having twice gone on trips because I forgot to pack a toothbrush ("Oh, I'll remember that in the morning") I have to say I'm in the "pack the night before" camp. And I'm a bit fanatic about being on time because of my upbringing - Dad was military and "early is on time, on time is late."<br /><br />But the rest? Not sure. I do know I need to shake off the fog of fatigue and get this short story done. But I'm a pro at procrastinating when it comes to starting my day job (witness me being here at 9:20 in the morning).Liz Millironhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04919409969263609919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-78594349095408186012016-02-09T08:31:11.432-05:002016-02-09T08:31:11.432-05:00I still have that awful nightmare, too, and it'...I still have that awful nightmare, too, and it's always a course I would never have taken - like astrophysics, or Greek, etc!<br /><br />Pre-crastinating/procrastinating -- I do both, depending on the circumstances. I seem to be better at creative work if I procrastinate. Looks like I'm in good company.Deb Romanonoreply@blogger.com